Phoenix Android Radio 4th Gen PX6

[melvimbe]

Hi All,

So I have to admit im not a raptor owner, im in an f250 but I hope I can join the raptor club anyway (were all blue oval right??) I have a PX6 unit and have learned a lot from this forum and just wanted to contribute something as well. I think were all realize that if the phoenix px6 radio has such potential but unfortunately falls short due to half baked SW and (as far as im concerned) very disappointing support from the manufacturer, so were on our own to find ways to improve it. Heres some things that Ive done so far that have improved the usability of my system:

1) The console app and audio routing was getting very annoying so I ditched the entire ford system completely. I used a USB DAC to go into a DSP (optional) then to my (aftermarket) amplifiers and bypassed the stock sony amp completely. Downside is I lose the radio but im always using spotify or internet radio anyway so for me no big loss. Can always DL an internet radio app to get local stations. Also the USB DAC (using a firefly red) sounds MUCH better than the stock radio or audio out of the PX6 unit

I'm not sure how it is on your F250, but my understanding is that SYNC is responsible for a lot more that just the radio controls. I could easily live without the radio functions of SYNC, but I thought warning beeps and such also work through SYNC? What about the camera? The AC? The steering wheel controls?

2) bought a USB volume control knob (on amazon for like $20) so I now have an actual, always accessible, volume knob like the stock radio (which I missed when installing the PX6) - im using that to control the media volume on the tablet, not using the volume control through the can bus and sony amp. IMO its a much better configuration, downside is I lose the ability to control the volume with the steering wheel buttons (but im working on a solution for this).

Where did you physically put your volume knob? Is the loss of steering wheel buttons related to this or to removing SYNC? I'm pretty comfortable with just using the steering wheel, but an extra knob wouldn't hurt. Since this is USB, and you are already using USB with DAC have you added additional USB?

I am still (after reading this entire thread at least 4 times over) having the following issues though, can anyone help???
- Still have very long boot times, sometimes its 1-2 minutes, sometimes its up to 10+ minutes. It starts and just shows the sync3 screen and then at some point starts booting android (dalvik cache issue?) (you have no idea how appreciative I would be if someone could help me solve this!). Ive tried updating the FW using the posted PX6 file (formatted then restored settings), and the MCU update thats been posted via download link on this forum.

Boot times improved for me after doing the updates you mentioned.

- Seems any menu (like actual android, not their menu thing) changes I make are non persistent - for example volume settings, and so on. (very annoying but not a show-stopper)

I haven't seen this issue...or maybe I don't understand what you're referring to.

I feel like so many issues could be solved if we had root access (would love to be able to run tasker and viper4android) but I guess thats not in the cards now.

Thanks all, great forum, hope to be able to contribute rather than just lurking!

I just wish that Phoenix would respond and support issues. It seems they've spread themselves way to thin, trying to cover to many models. It's clear that they have not done significant testing before releasing these, and have allowed configuration that simply will not work on the model vehicle used.

 

[Ghatzie]

I'm not sure how it is on your F250, but my understanding is that SYNC is responsible for a lot more that just the radio controls. I could easily live without the radio functions of SYNC, but I thought warning beeps and such also work through SYNC? What about the camera? The AC? The steering wheel controls?

So i just bypassed the sony amp, its technically still plugged in but it now has nothing to do with the stereo. I might be missing some chimes etc but honestly that doesnt bother me in the least (preferable actually). Everything else (AC, cameras, etc.) still works as it should.

Where did you physically put your volume knob? Is the loss of steering wheel buttons related to this or to removing SYNC? I'm pretty comfortable with just using the steering wheel, but an extra knob wouldn't hurt. Since this is USB, and you are already using USB with DAC have you added additional USB?

I mounted it right below the AC controls facing upwards at a 45 degree angle. Ill snap a pic and upload when i get a chance.

Boot times improved for me after doing the updates you mentioned.

So ive upgraded using the PX6.zip file posted in this thread and my MCU is RL7A_KWY_E029Y, is this what youre using? Seems there a 030 version floating around somewhere? Do we havea repository for the latest files? We should start one, the phoenix forum is junk.

I just wish that Phoenix would respond and support issues. It seems they've spread themselves way to thin, trying to cover to many models. It's clear that they have not done significant testing before releasing these, and have allowed configuration that simply will not work on the model vehicle used.

Very clear. It also seems to be a cobbled/hacked together android system. Again great concept, such potential but due to terrible SW development falls way short. Thanks for the reply though!

 

[amp]

Hi All,

So I have to admit im not a raptor owner, im in an f250 but I hope I can join the raptor club anyway (were all blue oval right??) I have a PX6 unit and have learned a lot from this forum and just wanted to contribute something as well. I think were all realize that if the phoenix px6 radio has such potential but unfortunately falls short due to half baked SW and (as far as im concerned) very disappointing support from the manufacturer, so were on our own to find ways to improve it. Heres some things that Ive done so far that have improved the usability of my system:

1) The console app and audio routing was getting very annoying so I ditched the entire ford system completely. I used a USB DAC to go into a DSP (optional) then to my (aftermarket) amplifiers and bypassed the stock sony amp completely. Downside is I lose the radio but im always using spotify or internet radio anyway so for me no big loss. Can always DL an internet radio app to get local stations. Also the USB DAC (using a firefly red) sounds MUCH better than the stock radio or audio out of the PX6 unit

2) bought a USB volume control knob (on amazon for like $20) so I now have an actual, always accessible, volume knob like the stock radio (which I missed when installing the PX6) - im using that to control the media volume on the tablet, not using the volume control through the can bus and sony amp. IMO its a much better configuration, downside is I lose the ability to control the volume with the steering wheel buttons (but im working on a solution for this).

I am still (after reading this entire thread at least 4 times over) having the following issues though, can anyone help???
- Still have very long boot times, sometimes its 1-2 minutes, sometimes its up to 10+ minutes. It starts and just shows the sync3 screen and then at some point starts booting android (dalvik cache issue?) (you have no idea how appreciative I would be if someone could help me solve this!). Ive tried updating the FW using the posted PX6 file (formatted then restored settings), and the MCU update thats been posted via download link on this forum.

- Seems any menu (like actual android, not their menu thing) changes I make are non persistent - for example volume settings, and so on. (very annoying but not a show-stopper)

I feel like so many issues could be solved if we had root access (would love to be able to run tasker and viper4android) but I guess thats not in the cards now.
EDIT: Actually tasker without root does quite a bit. My other devices are rooted so I didnt realize, this opens up a lot of potential!

Thanks all, great forum, hope to be able to contribute rather than just lurking!

That USB control knob sounds interesting. Do you have a picture to show how you integrated it into the console?

Regarding the long boot times, my tablet is starting to have the same issue. When I first get into the truck, it starts up to a messed up Sync3 screen that isn't responsive to any touch or button controls. After a few minutes, the tablet comes online and all is OK. No idea what causes this issue, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's related to the operating temperature of the tablet because it seems to be more of a problem on really cold days and only first thing in the morning when I start the truck. After driving around, parking and doing my daily activities, it's not an issue anymore.

 

[Ghatzie]

That USB control knob sounds interesting. Do you have a picture to show how you integrated it into the console?

Heres the knob I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VJ64TKX/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

Ill take picture over the weekend and post it.

Keep in mind though this will not change the volume on the can bus, just the media volume in android. This is only helpful because im routing the audio through an external DAC. This knob will be useless if you're using the stock system and controlling the volume via the can bus.

 

[Ghatzie]

Regarding the long boot times, my tablet is starting to have the same issue. When I first get into the truck, it starts up to a messed up Sync3 screen that isn't responsive to any touch or button controls. After a few minutes, the tablet comes online and all is OK. No idea what causes this issue, but if I had to guess, I'd say it's related to the operating temperature of the tablet because it seems to be more of a problem on really cold days and only first thing in the morning when I start the truck. After driving around, parking and doing my daily activities, it's not an issue anymore.

Id bet my last dollar the slow booting is related to Phoenix's implementation of androids initialization process and the building of the dalvik VM rather than a temperature related issue. Could also be something going on in the boot loader or kernel but id bet its dalvik related if I had to wager. To be honest I dont think they really know what theyre doing when it comes to building an android system. From my perspective it seems pretty hacked together. A nice clean implementation of android 9.0 would go a long way to cleaning things up.

AND IF YOURE READING THIS PHOENIX EMPLOYEES IF YOURE GOING TO SELL US A SYSTEM WE HAVE TO TROUBLESHOOT OURSELVES AT LEAST GIVE ROOT ACCESS SO WE CAN WORK!!!!

 

[Wyo1]

Anyone else running into this with prime video? Display is so small. I'm using Nova launcher. Don't mind Stinky and Dirty!

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[BDF]

OK, do I need to rename this thing or what? I realized it was reading an old .bin file I had on the drive...

if I leave the file as its downloaded, it ignores it.

You can try this canbus update if you'd like. I got it on 11/30/19 and was told that it fixed the steering wheel control skipping for certain apps. The apps I use (pandora, BT music) never really had a problem, so I didn't notice a difference but this might work for you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/61dmxavxewme7ny/simplecanupdate.bin?dl=0

 

[blwn]

Here are the latest files as of 10 days ago for a Sync3 system with auto climate:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9re16da3sxibx4g/px6.zip?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/391362j3m2s3s0g/RL7A.bin?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/61dmxavxewme7ny/simplecanupdate.bin?dl=0

 

[BDF]

The RL7 is the one the system seems to pick up for mcy upgrade, is that right? What's the simplecan for?

 

[BDF]

Updated rl7, no change